Sentence Correction

A broad range of surveys studying the effectiveness of abstinence-only education has identified at least three misconceptions thought to lead to a greater likelihood of unplanned pregnancy, the primary concern of such education.

A) surveys studying the effectiveness of abstinence-only education has identified at least three misconceptions thought to lead to a greater likelihood of unplanned pregnancy

B) surveys study the effectiveness of abstinence-only education have identified at least three misconceptions thought to greater than likelihood of unplanned pregnancy

C) surveys studying the effectiveness of abstinence only education, having identified at least three misconceptions that are thought to lead to a greater likelihood of unplanned pregnancy

D) surveys studying the effectiveness of abstinence- only education, and has identified at least three misconceptions thought to lead to a greater likelihood of unplanned pregnancy

E) surveys, studying the effectiveness of abstinence-only education, has identified at least three misconceptions they think to be the cause of greater likelihood of unplanned pregnancy


What is the subject of this sentence.

I think subject is SURVEYS.

But then how subject is below sentence is "discovery"


The discovery of new medicines was a miracle.

Instructors! Can you please help me.

vishalwin wrote:What is the subject of this sentence.

I think subject is SURVEYS.

But then how subject in below sentence is "discovery"

The discovery of new medicines was a miracle.

The two sentences are different.

In the case of The discovery of new medicines, clearly of new medicines is merely modifying the subject discovery.

If you were to leave out of new medicines, the sentence would still make sense.

The discovery was a miracle.

However, in the case of A broad range of surveys, range is used as a quantity word, and surveys is integral to the construction of the sentence, which would become meaningless without it, as you can see by reading the following.

A broad range has identified...

In this case, I would use a plural verb to go with the subject A broad range of surveys, much as one would use a plural verb to go with this, A number of surveys.

The choice of a singular or plural verb in expressions using the phrase number of depends on the meaning of the phrase.

A singular verb is used when one is referring to a single quantity.

The number of students registered in the class is 20.

The number...is 20.

Number of takes a plural verb when it is are used as an indefinite quantifier.

A number of students were late.

This is something like Ten students were late.

I think range is used as an indefinite quantifier in this SC question, and so A range of surveys takes a plural verb.

We could substitute Ten into this sentence to get the following.

Ten surveys have...

If I have it right, the OA to this one is A, but actually given what I just said, the verb in A should be have.

Hi Marty,

I am really confused.

Please see the below post.

https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/foru ... 32587.html



Although I also believe subject should be SURVEYS.

vishalwin wrote:Hi Marty,

I am really confused.

Please see the below post.

https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/foru ... 32587.html

Although I also believe subject should be SURVEYS.

Vishal, first you should develop some understanding of the different ways number of can be used and of the subject verb agreement rules for the use of number of, group of and other such quantity words.

Here is a discussion from which you can get some insight.

https://english.stackexchange.com/questi ... -or-plural

Given how those words can work, what is said in that Manhattan thread is not exactly correct.